The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-19
A ROMANCE OF SIBERIA.
How a Learned Professor Became q
Wood Cutter in &C ,tral Asia.

Wood Cutter In &C ,tral Asia.
A civil engineer, who has just returned
from Central Asia where he spent six years,
relates the following incident, says an Odessa
Letter TO the Levant Herald
The monotony of his residence in those re-
mote provinces was broken by an occasional
hunting expedition into Siberia. On one Of
these trapping expeditions, which included
a younger member of the grand ducal fam
lilies, the party were one evening belated in
pine forest, at some distance from the days
bfvouac They were utterly astray. A
stentorian view halloo brought to the assist
ance and guidance OF the party wood-cut-
ter--an old man of some three-score years,
with tangled locks. coarse kartan and bark
swathed feet
Under the old mans guidance the party
found rude hut, a charcoal fire and simple
cooking utensils. The engineer noticed that
the old woodcutter, when unobserveS
scanned his face rather attentively. He
took quiet opportunity of asking the old
man il he observed In him any resemblance
to some one he hal previously known. "A
very strong resemblance was the reply.
"Were you not some fifteen years ago a stu
dent OF the Richelevsh Gymnase in
Odessar The engineer answered afiirma-
lively. "And do you not remember Prof.
--p Certainly: he was man be-
loved by every student IN his class. shall
always remember kindly the amiable and
learned professor who disappeared so sud-
denly and mysteriously from Odessa. But
what do you know of himF'
The old wood-eutter for the first time
smiled; the heavy mustache and beard had
hidden the lines Of the mouth in repose
The young engineer had not forgotten the
peculiar sad sweetness of his old profess
sor's smile. The ragged and picturesque
wood-cutter and the former learned prof.
fessor of Sansc-it and comparative philol-
ogy were the same. The rencontre was,
under the circumstances, naturally at once
both pleasing and painful TO my friend, to
whose immediate aud anxious inquiries the
old man replied sadly: "All Gods will, my
boy. As TO the suddenness and mystery of
my disappearance from Odessa, the secret
police might have explained. Nothing be-
yond an unfounded suspicion of disaffection
10 our Little Father and a preposterous
charge of disseminating revolutionary doc
trine have sent me to this lifelong banish-
ment.
"But do not repine. / have sufficient
philosophy left TO apply myself to the fell
ing of pine trees with the same zest as that
with which / formerly delighted to pursue
a knotty PATHOLOGICAL problem. Am | not
wise in my generation and old age! | am
deprived of the sight and companionship OF
old friends. but God gives me health and a
portion of contentment. NY masters pay
me with but few unkind words aud two
roubles per nlensem. Ny old Odessa pupils
paid me six roubles an hour. But what OF
thati / have sufficient Some old memories
draw tightly round the heart and give me
infinite pain. Then swing my heavy adz
with greater force, and endeavor to forget.
II is to me joy 10 look upon the still
youthful face Of my old pupil; but do not
probe my heart. child. ] ask you not 20
speak 20 me ut parting You were always
obedient and you hear me. God keep you'll
GoOd-by
The old man would not allow my friend 10
convey any messages 10 relatives or ac-
quaiutances, who, he said. had probably
forgotten his existence, and he would not
disturb dead memories. How many others
are there like tho old pr0fessor--ineu, aan.
OF birth, breesiing. and brilliant intellectual
parts, languishing out their lives IN the
dfeary wilds Of Siberia Tor q baselosS sas.
uici0ni The reflection n saddepia2-